Madhya Pradesh High Court issues SOP to strengthen security in Court premises

Close in the heels of the recent shoot-out that took place in the Rohini district court at Delhi, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has introduced a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to tighten the security in courts of Madhya Pradesh..A notification issued by the Madhya Pradesh High Court expressed concern that there have been similar attacks impacting the safety of courts in Madhya Pradesh.."The difference between the incidents that have taken place in our District Courts and the Rohini episode is the manner of execution. In MP, the assailants enter the District Court complex as members of the public and execute their plan. In Rohini, the assailants entered as advocates, and that made all the difference", the notification stated. .Among other measures, an RFID-based identification system for advocates is being introduced in Madhya Pradesh courts to identify the entrants' identities seamlessly..The SOP concerns only the first stage of security i.e. Perimeter security, to deal with potential assailants who may attempt to enter the Court premises. .The other two stages, being Proximate and Personal security, which deal with security concerns when the assailant has access to the court complex and security of the judge and staff inside the Court, are not within the purview of the current SOP..Highlights of the SOP are outlined below. .The Madhya Pradesh State Bar Council will be the sole authority to issue personal RFID cards to Advocates on their rolls. The Bar Council is to prepare a computer-based integrated application form for the issuance of personal RFID. The application is to mandatorily require details like the name and parentage of the applicant, the registration number of the applicant with the Bar Council, mobile number, photograph, address proof etc. The completed form is to be verified by the Bar Association of which the applicant is a member and should be endorsed by the authorized office bearer. The Bar Council is to make arrangements to receive the digital copy of the completed application form through email and/or mobile app compatible with Android and iOS. A machine-generated receipt with a reference number is to be issued to the applicant for follow up. Once the applicant's identity is verified, Bar Council is to issue a personal RFID card on the payment of fees. A helpline number is to be formed to report issues relating to the RFID card, including loss or damage to the card, in which case the RFID card will be immediately blocked. .Advocates are to fill up the application form given by the State Bar Council for getting the RFID cards and the information in the form is to be endorsed as correct after verification with the Membership Registry by the President of Bar Association or authorized office bearer. The completed applications are to be uploaded through email/mobile app provided by the State Bar Council and the advocate is to retain the receipt and registration number till they receive the RFID card. The RFID cards issued to advocates will be non-transferable. Entry into the court premises without the RFID card will necessitate physical frisking of that advocate, which cannot be objected to. In addition to this, advocates will have to produce their identity card issued by the State Bar Council. Aadhar card, driving license, PAN card, etc. shall not be acceptable. Advocates from outside the State, if engaged by a local advocate with an RFID card to appear before the courts in Madhya Pradesh, will be extended the privilege of entry into the court premises without physical frisking, upon being identified by the local advocate. However, an entry of the outstation advocate shall be made by the security staff at the point of entry in the register. Out-station advocates, who are engaged by the local clients, and who cannot be identified by a local advocate, will be physically frisked by the security staff at the entrance. The advocate applying for RFID card shall bear the cost of the card as determined by the Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh from time to time, and in case of loss or damage to the card, the same must be intimated to the State Bar Council on the helpline to disable the card..The concerned office bearer of the Bar Association are to verify the details and endorse with his signature and official seal when the completed forms are placed before it. This shall mean that the application has been verified at its level and the details given therein are correct. The Bar Association is to retain the physical form for one year, even if the digital version of the application form has been uploaded by the applicant..Recognized Bar Associations by the Bar Council are to be the sole authority to issue vehicular RFID cards to its member-advocates registered with the Bar Council of Madhya Pradesh. Only vehicles registered in the name of advocates or his family members, i.e., wife, son or daughter, will be eligible for issuance of RFID stickers Only vehicles having RFID stickers will be allowed entry into designated parking area for advocates in the court premises. The application form to be filled by advocates should contain options for 4-wheelers and 2-wheelers, as the stickers for both will be different. Along with application form, a copy of the registration card of the vehicle in the name of the advocate or their family members (wife, son or daughter) along with advocate registration number with Bar Council is to be submitted. Automatic boom barriers with manual override by security are to be fixed at entrance for the seamless entry of vehicles having the RFID stickers. Advocates whose vehicles bear the RFID stickers are to ensure that the vehicle is not borrowed by anyone, except on days when the court is closed or after the court's working hours. If non-advocates are passengers in the vehicles of the advocate with RFID sticker, it will be the duty of the advocate possessing the RFID card to record the names of such persons at the entrance so that they may be physically frisked. Electric vehicles which do not require registration do not qualify for RFID stickers and shall not be permitted into the Court premises. Such vehicles shall be parked outside the Court perimeter in such places designated for them. However, electric vehicles with registration numbers qualify for issuance of an RFID sticker and requirement. Advocates coming on bicycles do not require an RFID sticker on their bicycles but the entry of bicycles into the Court premises of such advocates is to only be after the bicycle is checked (especially under the saddle) by the security staff..The Registrar General of the Madhya Pradesh High Court is to be the sole authority to issue RFID cards and vehicle stickers to the employees of the High Court for the Principal Bench at Jabalpur. The Principal Registrar of the Benches at Indore and Gwalior are to be the authority to issue RFID cards and vehicle stickers to the employees of the Bench at Indore and Gwalior respectively. Personal RFID cards are to be issued to all employees on the rolls of the High Court without the requirement of an application. The Registrar General's office is to maintain a record of the RFIDs issued to all the employees of the High Court at the Principal Bench. The Principal Registrars of the Benches at Indore and Gwalior are to maintain similar records. A permanent help line number for issues relating to the RFID cards is to be maintained . The District Judge is to be in charge of issuing the RFID cards to all the employees of the District Court and the Tahsil Courts. The District Judge is to maintain a record of those receiving the RFID cards. The “SOP for vehicles” will apply to the employees of the High Court and the District Courts. Applications are to be addressed to the Registrar General, the Principal Registrar at the Benches and the District Judge. The Benches are to also make provisions for issuing temporary RFID cards for three months to interns posted at the various courts..The SOP made by the High Court will be applicable to all stakeholders of the subordinate Courts. Each Principal District Judge/ Principal Family Court Judge/Senior most Judge of the respective districts/Tahsils will have exclusive authority to take decisions as per the requirement of the place and situation subject to the SOP. Each of them will have to nominate responsible staff members to oversee the safety norms by carrying regular inspections on daily basis in their respective Court premises. All judicial officers of subordinate Courts are to ensure that advocates and the staff members working under their control adhere to this SOP. The Court premises, including Bar Association buildings/chambers, will remain open on all Court working days between 09.30 AM to 06.30 PM, only or subject to the orders of the Principal District Judge/ Principal Family Court Judge or Senior-most judge of the District/ Tahsil Court. Each Principal District Judge/Principal Family Court Judge/Senior most Judge of the respective districts/Tahsils are to define the entry and exit gates. They should also regularly supervise the proper functionality of security set up..For the smooth implementation of the SOP, the notification also recommends the dimensions to be maintained when it comes to boundary walls, the use of barbed wire on the peripheries, deployment of CISF or other special security forces at district court premises and the residential accommodations of judicial officers, setting up police outposts, watchtowers, CCTV cameras and cloak rooms..[Read notification]